Main navigation

A new cycle path for Aberdeen

A new cycle route opened up in Aberdeen this week. It’s a shared walking/cycling path which runs right next to the River Dee. I went and checked it out today and it was just lovely. It’s hard to believe this is in a big city (maybe big is not the best word for Aberdeen?) because it’s so green and leafy and undeveloped-looking that it could easily be in the countryside.

Here’s a map showing where the new cycle path is. I’ve added it as a purple line towards the bottom of this next pic.

The only problem is that once you reach the bridge at the end there isn’t any way to cross without dashing out in front of traffic. It’s a very busy road and the bridge itself has four lanes. Fortunately someone stopped for me and let me cross on one side and on the other I just ran for it with the bike. According to the Aberdeen City Council press release they’re looking into doing something about the crossings thank goodness. It’s nice to see cycling infrastructure like this being built.

Good to see; I see someone recommended a website re cycling infrastructure. Do you follow Sustrans? And when (if) you are next in London you must come to my neck of the woods and try the outdoor velodrome at Herne hill (you kids too – there’s a training track for them): it’s not scary like the indoor Olympic ones but is exhilarating! I was very happy to do the legal work for them to re-establish this as part of the 2012 Olympic legacy ad now it is used by loads of kids (especially)

Good news with the crossing. Several years ago, a path was built near here to join two parts of a village, but the brilliant traffic planners put the pedestrian crossing across the A27 in the wrong place, which meant that in the end the lights were taken out of use and sit there with waterproof hoods on them and walkers and cyclists still have to dash across two lanes of traffic and… aargh 😦